Process of preparing the charge for spelter-furnaces



(No Model.)

B. PHILLIPS & T. JONES, PROGESS OF PREPARING THE CHARGES FOR SPELTERFURNACES.

No. 323,959. Patented Aug. 11, 1885.

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NITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

ENOOH PHILLIPSAND THOMAS JONES, OF PULASKI, VIRGINIA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 323,959, dated August11, 1885.

Application filed March 28, 1885. (No model.)

To allwhom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ENOGH PHILLIPS and THOMAS J ONES, citizens of theUnited States, residing at Pulaski, in the county of Pulaski and Stateof Virginia, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Processes ofPreparing the Charge for Spelter-Furnaces, of which the following is aspecification, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings.

This invention is an improvement in the preparation of the charge forzinc-furnaces; and it consists in compressing said charge into a solidmass or cartridge, fitted to enter the retorts, and in the formation ofsuch cartridge with a longitudinal flue or passage, all of which will bedescribed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section of the furnace, drawnlongitudinally through the retorts. Fig. 2is a front elevation of thefurnace, and Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of one of thechar-ging-cartridges.

The furnaceis provided with the retorts A.

In the usual treatmentof the ore the chargeconsisting of ore, flux,skimmings, and dross is mixed on the floor in front of the furnace, andis shoveled into the retorts. This shovelin g of the ore into theretorts requires skilled labor to properly charge the retorts, and largequantities of the ore are wasted by being spilled upon the floor,tramped on, sweptinto the ash-pit, &c.

It has been proposed to make up fine zinc ore into masses or forms withlime, &c.-, and subsequently distilling the zinc from these charges inretorts. It has also been proposed to make fine ore into forms or masseshaving a central flue.

In our improvement we take the chargeconsisting of ore, flux, skimmings,and dr0ss and mix it with lime or flour or a similar binding agent. Itis then compressed into a solid mass, or, as we commonly term it, acartridge, B, forming a cylindrical retort-charge, having a centrallongitudinal opening or flue. These cylinders are made slightly smallerthan the retorts, so as to be readily introduced into the same, and-inwhich they are subjected to the action of external heat. Thelongitudinal flue-opening 1) permits the circulation of the heat throughthe parts, resulting quent to such compression, as desired, though weprefer to form it at the time of compression.

We do not desire to be limited to the manner of compressing thecartridge. Such result may be effected by ramming with suitable handimplements; or hydraulic, steam, horse,

or other power may be employed.

The cartridges may be prepared in a separate building from the furnace,and be conveyed thereto in cars or in other suitable manner.

WVhile the cartridges may be formed of a sufficient length to singlyserve as a charge, it is preferred to make each charge in two or moresections, for convenience in the preparation and handling of suchcartridges.

In compressing the charge it is frequently found desirable to mixtherewith lime, flour, or other binding agents, to cause the parts toadhere.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-- The method of distilling zinc from fine ores,which consists in mixing the zinc ore with lime or flour and flux,forming the same into a cylindrical retort-charge having a centrallongitudinal flue, and subjecting these cylinders in suitablezinc-retorts to the action of external heat, as and for the purpose setforth.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own we have heretoafiixed our signatures in presence of two witnesses.

- ENOOH PHILLIPS.

THOMAS JONESP \Vitnesses L; S. CALFER,

J. GEMMELL.

